First Shotgun ??

[nwopat]

Looking to get a shotgun for home security and skeet/trap shooting. I have seen some Benelli and Mossberg guns on the Big 5 site for under $400... anyone help me out with their opinion on whether they might be a good buy for my first shotgun ? Specifically looking at the Benelli Nove for $349 and the Mossberg 590 for $379.

Thanks for your help and opinions...

[j.primo]

A Mossberg 590 isn't the best choice if you want a shotgun for home security and skeet/trap. The longest factory barrel for a 590 is 20". You can shoot trap with it I guess, but the longer barrels are better. If you want an "all purpose" shotgun, then the Mossberg 500 w/ combo barrel from B5 would be your best choice.

My $0.02. Good luck.

[yoitsbruce]

my ist was a mossberg 500 pistol grip.. i love it 18" barrel 8+1 cap. its a so much fun at the range. i dont really shoot trap. i just practice on engaging 7 - 15 yard range get vectoring right. i shoot slugs,buck and target loads. 00buck hurts the wrist a bit but if you do pushups daily then it aint no thang

[prc77]

my ist was a mossberg 500 pistol grip.. i love it 18" barrel 8+1 cap. its a so much fun at the range. i dont really shoot trap. i just practice on engaging 7 - 15 yard range get vectoring right. i shoot slugs,buck and target loads. 00buck hurts the wrist a bit but if you do pushups daily then it aint no thang

your Mossberg, if its a 18" barrel is a 6 shot 5+1, if it's a 20" barrel then it is a 8 shot 7+1, if you can load 9 rounds 8+1 then it is a 590

[goback]

i just bought a moss 500 from the local gun store. $300 brand new. 28" barrel. and 16" for security. the laoding mech on the bottom kinda thew me off though. does anybody know why there isnt the plate where you slide the shells into the mag?

[reidnez]

HD and clayshooting are two very different purposes, you will need two barrels. Mossbergs 500's are regularly available in a package with an 18" barrel and a longer one (I think 26" or 28"). I believe the 870 may come in a similar package as well.

I had a Benelli Nova and didn't much care for it, to be honest. Mine had the worst-rattling forend I've ever seen, though supposedly they have improved that. It was also, in my opinion, just too light for serious use. If you're going to shoot a shotgun for any length at the range, you want some heft. Light guns are for the field. Keep in mind that with the stock and receiver being one piece, you can never change out the stock for something you like more.

I prefer the 870 to the Mossberg; they just feel better-made to me. That's not to say that Mossys are bad guns.

[evidens83]

870

[sevensix2x51]

Id venture that trap/clays and home defense are mutually exclusive. The best bet is for a 2 barrel kit from big 5. At least, that's what I would get, if I didn't have more than one shotgun.. 18.5" for the casa, and the big ole goose barrel for the range. So, +1 on the combo kit.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

Location? There is a Mossberg 500 with both barrels near me at a local gun shop for $150 OTD.

[nwopat]

Thanks for all the help..still sifting through the info. But..maybe the moss 500 isn't too bad for a first shotgun. btw...located in sacramento area. Oh..sorry if this is an absurd question....i thought i was told for shotguns there is no waiting time... i just cant believe that is true... can someone please out this rumor to rest for me...

[integraGSR]

i just bought my first shotgun as well in October from big 5 on arden way. i'm also from sac and you have to wait 10 days. i bought a mossberg 500 combo in the camo verison because of the included choke set. was told the regular 500, with black synthetic stock, was not treaded for chokes. i should have checked! oh well, i paid 402 OTD with tax and the $25 background check. so far i like my gun and has not given me any problems. when i'm at home i have the 18" barrel installed and when i go out i change out to the 28" and install the plug.

[SteveMartin]

Thanks for all the help..still sifting through the info. But..maybe the moss 500 isn't too bad for a first shotgun. btw...located in sacramento area. Oh..sorry if this is an absurd question....i thought i was told for shotguns there is no waiting time... i just cant believe that is true... can someone please out this rumor to rest for me...

Still 10-day jail for shotguns in CA.

[nwopat]

so...I want the chokes ? Therefore the camo and not the black synthetic ?

[integraGSR]

so...I want the chokes ? Therefore the camo and not the black synthetic ?

yes. i was looking at the black synthetic that was on sale at big 5 for 259 and was told it did not come with chokes nor the barrel was treaded for chokes. i didn't check but i should have. but reading through some info online, other people had said that their mossberg 500 combo, synthetic black, has no chokes and barrel is not threaded. the black one is usually 259 on sale and the camo version is 349 when on sale.